The Choice. Cable Textured Cardigan Pattern.

The Choice. Cable Textured Cardigan Pattern.

The Choice cardigan is live! Knit in Moeke Elena yarn, the cardigan is a fun mix of traditional and modern knitting worlds. Raw organic wool spun on a hundred year old mill turned into a cozy and versatile knitwear piece for a 21st century knitter.

The Choice is a 2-in-1 pattern that provides two complete patterns with very detailed instructions how to knit the cable back version and the plain textured back. This little modification not only drastically changes the look of the cardigan, but also its fabric – cables create more structure on the back, whether a simple textured stitch creates a beautiful fabric with nice drape. You can knit one version and come back to the second one months (maybe years?) later and try it in different color or fiber! This way you are already familiar with the construction and the rhythm of the pattern, but you are still making something different that will keep things fresh and interesting!

I am absolutely in love with the simple textured cardigan’s “background” stitch. First of all it is so easy and fast to knit! I don’t mind purling at all, but I know that some knitters prefer to avoid it as much as possible. Well, this stitch has less purls in it than a stockinette stitch! Its small stitch repeat makes it super easy to incorporate the increased stitches and keep the pattern flowing. And these little “nubs” create a fabric with character. Elena yarn‘s slightly uneven thread adds another dimension to the texture, which I absolutely adore! The fabric looks and feels alive!

The Choice is pretty fitting on the back, but has a very generous ease in the front. You can wear the neckbands folded up with the wrong side showing (this will create an additional texture contrast) or you can wrap yourself in its cozy texture to have some protection from chilly winds.

The Choice is a top-down seamless cardigan with the neckband knit simultaneously with the main body of the garment with the use of short rows to avoid pulling of the fabric, which means when you bind off – you are done! I experimented quiet a lot with the yoke shaping, at the end I used the compound raglan, which created a natural line that runs from the neck to the base of the armhole.

The cardigan is graded for 7 sizes and it is definitely not easy to put the instructions for all the sizes in a clear and understandable format (I admit, I wanted to give up at one point!), so I decided to write yoke instructions for each size individually in a separate PDF file. It took a lot of time, but I think it was so worth it – now you can just print the instructions for your size and follow row by row, without getting lost in numbers and different sizes!

There is one more unusual thing that I tried in this pattern – so called Yoke Tables for each size. Basically it is a table which gives you a general picture of what is going on in the yoke shaping and helps you to keep track of all the increases, neckband short rows, cable crosses and stitch counts. You will also find it in your copy of the pattern. I found it extremely helpful when knitting and writing a pattern and my wonderful test knitters, Eva and Timea, also strongly supported the idea of the tables. When I got used to the rhythm of the pattern, I used only the Yoke Tables as a reference, without even looking at step-by-step instructions. It also comes in handy when you leave your WIP for awhile and come back to it later – believe me, you won’t be lost, Yoke Tables help you to know exactly where you left off. But it’s up to you, of course, you can use just the traditional step-by-step row by row yoke instructions.

The pattern provides a very detailed step-by-step photo tutorial how to start your cardigan. So, if you’ve never knit this kind of construction before (top-down compound raglan + simultaneous seamless neckband), you will still be able to do it without any problem with the help of written + visual instructions. You will also find links to video/photo tutorials for all the techniques used in the pattern.

The Choice is a cocktail of textures – brioche, cables, knit/purl stitch pattern – so you definitely won’t be bored! All of the textures are “framed” by i-cord that is knit simultaneously with the main body and then “meets” with the i-cord bind off at the hem. I-cord finishing is also mirrored on the sleeves.

Sleeves have a folded cuff, that creates not only a cozy volume around your wrist, but also a beautiful contrast of textures. But if you are not into folded cuffs, you can stop at your wrist level (the pattern lets you know that) and start i-cord bind off right away.

Optional – US size 4 [3.5 mm] double-pointed needles (set of 4) for the sleeves. You can use US size 4 [3.5 mm] 31″ [80 cm] circular needle to work the sleeves using the magic loop method.

Spare circular needle.

OTHER

Stitch markers

Stitch holders or scrap yarn

Tapestry needle

Cable needle

Optional – crochet hook in size 3.5 mm

List of techniques used:

Brioche (link to a video tutorial provided)

I-cord bind off (step-by-step photo tutorial is provided)

I-cord edge (link to a photo tutorial provided)

Short rows (link to a video tutorial provided)

Cables (charts + step-by-step written instructions are provided)

After the purchase you will receive 18 PDF files. Don’t be scared that there are so many 🙂 You won’t use all of them. Each pattern has 9 files – the main pattern file, 7 separate yoke shaping instructions written out for each size individually and a Yoke Table file.

The randomly chosen winners of the pattern giveaway are Ali (Ravelry ID: MrsMcD918), Jane (Ravelry ID: Celticprincess) and Eleni (Ravelry ID: Eleni Mal). Congratulations! You will receive the copy of the pattern today! So looking forward to seeing it knit by you!!

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22 Comments

Wow, Alina, bravo! I think you’ve absolutely outdone yourself as a designer! This is a stunning cardigan and such a complicated piece of knitwear, I can see how much thought and careful calculations, and how much creative imagination has been put into it. Good for you!!! The yarn creates very cozy and comforting texture. Beautiful!!!

Thank you, my friend!!! Haha, I know 🙂 It was so much work for both of us, there was one little mistake she found in the file and I had to correct it in all 14 files, I thought my brain would explode 🙂

how carefully you thought out these instructions!!! (one of my pet peeves with patterns….mainly in magazine format where they are limited by space….is where even for a seasoned knitter, important details of the pattern are left to one’s imagination!!!! And I’m often not very imaginative!!!) Lovely lovely cardi!

Thank you, Steph! Yes, I know what you mean, I love having a book or magazines in printed version, but there are space limitations. And I am very picky about my patterns and love to provide as much information as possible for a knitter, plus I am very visual myself and photo tutorials are the best thing to show what’s happening!

Such a beautiful garment! I have just treated myself to a copy of the pattern – wow, it is amazing the detail you have put into it. I am a bit daunted – never done cables before 🙁 – but after Christmas, will treat myself and get knitting. Just such a lovely lovely knit.

Thank you, Katherine, for your support The cables are very basic and you can always choose the Textured Back version, which is easier. In any case, you know my email, so you can always ask me anything when in doubt 🙂

I haven’t taken the time yet to come to your blog and put it down here how much I love the pattern and your style of knit. What an accomplishment and what satisfaction you must feel seeing it out there now!

I’m a novice knitter. My daughter taught me to knit a couple of years ago and I fell in love with it! Since that time I have mainly knit scarves, cowls and one (very easy) afghan. How complicated is this pattern? I love the look – I love a challenge – and I love the fact that you have such detailed instructions. Is this something an “experienced beginner” could knit?

Hello Faythe! Thank you so much, I am glad you like The Choice! Well, The Choice is definitely not for an absolute beginner who just started to knit. But if you are familiar with basic stitches, know how to follow a pattern and especially if you are up for a challenge, you will be able to knit it following its step-by-step instructions. Though it is not a pattern for a TV knitting if you are a beginner, you have to pay attention.
All the techniques used in this pattern are either explained by a step-by-step photo tutorial or the links to video/photo tutorials provided. The most tricky part will be the beginning of it, but this part is explained in step by step photo tutorial in the pattern. I would also recommend the Textured back version, without a cable on the back – this way there will be less things to keep track of.

In any case, you can always write me an email and ask for clarification/explanation of sts/techniques/instructions of the pattern.